SNIPE. 
97 
, These birds abound in the meadows and low grounds 
large rivers, particularly those that border 
(.o*,^®*''*ylhill and Delaware, from the 10th of March 
ea/r' 1 ol April, and sometimes later, and are 
sought after by many of our gunners. The 
IrB**'* '' ‘® grounds, however, which these birds 
shv coldness of tbe season, and peculiar 
■itt and agility of the game, render this amusement 
_ u^ctive only to the most dexterous, active, and eager 
sportsmen. 
; ‘‘® snipe is eleven inches long, and seventeen inches 
; the bill is more tbau two inches and a half 
tow’ lengthwise, of a brown colour, and black 
is r til® tip, where it is very smooth while the bird 
libo '^®’ 
killed, becomes dimpled. 
irr* '® tbirable ; crown, black, divided by an 
Ijj ^itular line ^f pale brown ; another broader one of 
ey tint passes over each eye ; from the bill to the 
®f ti *®^'® is a nari’ow dusky line ; neck and upper part 
h’hit *^*‘®ast, pale brow'u, variegated with touches of 
Veiy ^Dd dusky ; chin, pale ; back and scapulars, deep 
lip ®*y black, the latter elegantly marbled with waving 
"'hh ^®f>’uginous, and broadly edged exteriorly with 
tbo, ’ '"'ings, plain dusky, all the feathers, as well as 
iii ® the coverts, tipt with white ; shoulder of the 
h’bit’ dusky brown, exterior quill, edged with 
ef ‘® > tail-coverts, long, reaching within three quarters 
Witi,V*'®h of the tip, and of a pale rust colour, spotted 
of r ,®'ack ; tail, rounded, deep black, ending in a bar 
ling'’'pt ferruginous, crossed with a narrow waving 
*ide ® , ^®®^> and tipt with whitish ; belly, pure white ; 
ashv’ ^'Ith dusky ; legs and feet, a very pale 
tbp green ; sometimes the whole thighs and sides of 
are barred with dusky and white. 
Colo, ® ^®*nale difiers in being more obscure in her 
libn.u ’ ^^® white on the back being less pure, and the 
not so deep. 
’'OL. m. 
e 
4 
